Leftovers: Boudreau's goalie choice pays off

LOS ANGELES – Thoughts, musings and ruminations from the Ducks’ 3-2 Game 3 win over the Kings to get back in the Western Conference semifinal series …

-- Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau played the percentages and started Frederik Andersen in goal despite having gone with Jonas Hiller for the first two games. It was a move that, had it backfired, would have put Boudreau under fire.

The decision paid off in an interesting way. Andersen, who had his share of shaky moments in the first round against Dallas, put some rebounds on the ice for the Kings but ultimately was in position to win after stopping 22 of 23 shots he faced.

“I looked at the records of both guys at Staples Center and Hiller was 0 and 7 (actually 0-5-2) in his career here. Freddie was 2-0. It was like a baseball manager, went with the guy that was comfortable here. And Hiller got the save.”

Hiller actually got the win in a save situation. Andersen came up lame when he appeared to suffer a leg injury while scrambling around in the net during a flurry by the Kings midway through the third and the Ducks holding a 2-1 lead.

Enter Hiller.

For the third time in these playoffs, the veteran has come on to relieve Andersen and has come away with two wins. Mike Richards got the only goal in eight shots from the Kings but it came with 30.8 seconds left and only provided the final score.

“It can’t much worse to kind of sit on the bench for 50 minutes and then suddenly you’re in a 2-1 game,” Hiller said. “I found a way to focus. In one second, you’re almost in a different world from being on the bench watching the game, so you have to focus and stop the puck.

“It worked out and we were able to get a win.”

Hiller immediately had to make a toe save on Kings star defenseman Drew Doughty. He’s been a yo-yo for the Ducks in this postseason – and trying his best to handle the situation after being their No. 1 goalie for five years running.

“As a goalie you always have mental challenges,” Hiller said. “I’ve been through more than usual the last few weeks. This was just part of it. You could say I’m almost used it. We’ll see how it goes for the next game.”

-- Boudreau was left impressed with his goalies, which have made the Ducks’ situation in net an interesting one.

“He’s a guy you can tell if he’s playing well early, the glove hand seems a lot sharper,” Boudreau said of Andersen. “So I thought he played good.

“And I thought Hilly came in under tough circumstances and made a couple of real big saves, except for the baseball goal that they scored.’’

Andersen didn’t appear to be favoring his right leg afterward, even though he had trouble putting some weight on it when he was helped off the ice by trainer Joe Huff.

It wasn’t the only injury for the Ducks. Left wing Matt Beleskey didn’t return after being hit hard along the boards by Kings captain Dustin Brown.

Beleskey missed four games in the first round due to a lower-body injury that may have been re-aggravated by the hit. Boudreau called both “day-to-day” and didn’t discuss either any further.

-- Another decision by Boudreau had an impact. Defenseman Sami Vatanen, who was called up from Norfolk (AHL), played 20 minutes, 19 seconds and left a big impression on the coach.

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